A Step-By-Step Guide on the Design and Construction Process

Learn what it takes to get your building off the ground

So, you’ve come up with a great idea for a new building, whether it’s a hotel, a luxury condominium, or even a restaurant or nightclub. You’ve done your market research and scoped out the area and you’re sure it will be a success. You’re already envisioning the structure and how it will look in the skyline, and perhaps you see yourself at the grand opening holding a giant pair of novelty scissors to cut the red ribbon.

Now, how do you go from that vision in your head to an actual structure? It’s a process that involves these six steps:

First meeting

The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out who will be bringing your project to life. You can either use a bunch of different contractors and companies or make it easier on yourself by going with a design-build firm.

The big advantage of a design-build firm is that the entire design and construction team is under the same umbrella and you will be able to immediately meet and talk to everyone who will be involved with your project. You won’t have to try to schedule appointments with different firms and then run all over town to make them, or coordinate them during the actual build.

Once you make the decision, it’s time to set up a meeting. One of the first people you will talk to is the designer and/or architect. This will give you a chance to discuss your plans and go over all of the details, including budget, time frame, the function and feel of the structure, and any other necessary components that will make your project a success.

The quote

After your plans are reviewed, you will be given a quote that will detail, item by item, all of the expenses that will be involved in the build. If things seem a little pricier than expected, you have the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to fit your budget – and your design-build team will work with you on this, providing you alternative options that meet your requirements.

The contract

If you are happy with the designs and how much you will need to pay, you will be presented with a contract. This document will cover the scope of the project, deadlines, outline all of the components and materials involved in the build, and all other relevant information. If everything looks good after a careful review, you are ready to sign. At that point the necessary permits will be applied for and work can soon be underway.

Work begins

When the paperwork is signed and delivered and local authorities issue a permit, work can start. One of the unique aspects of a design-build firm shows itself right from the start – because all members of the team are present within one firm, we collaborate on a schedule that can have certain portions of the build up and running, even before other architectural or design components are finished. As these tasks run concurrently, it speeds up the entire process, giving you an edge on getting the project to come in on time.

You of course will want to know how things are progressing, and you can contact the project manager for regular updates. If you do decide to go the design-build route, communication will never be an issue. No matter what information you need, you will be able to get it quickly and with little trouble, from a single point of contact.

Adjustments

If you’re thrilled with the way work is going and it’s exactly what you want, all you have to do is sit back and wait until your building is completed. But if you suddenly decide that something should be added or taken out, things can be changed on the fly. All revisions need to be put in writing so everyone can sign off on them, and the design-build firm will explain to you if and how any alterations will impact the cost and completion schedule.

Your finished building

Once your building is up, it will need to be inspected. When it’s approved, you will be given a certificate of occupancy and you’re good to go. At that point you can open for business or, depending upon how the space will be used, start working on additional interior design components.

At Telesco Construction, we make the entire design and construction process easy for you. The goal of our design-build firm is to give our clients exactly what they want in a timely and cost-effective manner – and our unique level of collaboration across all disciplines of construction and design allows us to it. If you’re ready to get your building project moving, call us at 305.390.0250 or contact us through our online form.